The VA.C.E.T.RA.S Training Centre in Vučevica, Croatia, hosted the second Transnational Roundtable of the InDiMaND project (Integrated Disaster Management Network in the Danube Region) on 22–23 October 2026. The meeting ran alongside the 16th International Autumn Professional Conference of the Croatian Firefighting Association. Over two days, partners reviewed the work done so far, agreed on the next steps and shared their experience in disaster preparedness and response.

On the first day, partners went through the results of the third reporting period and the work planned for the coming months. Topics included the common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the mapping of disaster response capacities, training, volunteer and youth involvement, and public awareness campaigns.

On 22 October, ASWM presented the working draft of the Action Plan for adopting the common SOPs. ASWM leads this activity and is developing the plan together with 12 other partner organisations from the Danube Region. The final plan will show disaster management organisations the practical steps they can take to bring the common procedures into their daily work.

Partners attending in person also joined the international firefighting conference, which included a live forest fire demonstration exercise.

The second day focused on lessons from major fires in recent years. Partners spoke about prevention, early detection, regular joint exercises and better coordination between response organisations. They agreed that lessons from real emergencies should feed into future training and procedures. The agenda also included communication with the public, volunteering, and how social media and digital tools can help reach young people.

During the event, the project’s Steering Committee met to review progress, upcoming tasks and quality assurance requirements.

The meeting in Croatia showed once again that good preparedness depends on partners learning from each other and working together in practice.

InDiMaND brings organisations from across the Danube Region together around common approaches, with the goal of safer and more resilient communities.

InDiMaND is an Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union.